FREDDIE Ljungberg is emerging as a candidate to fill City's right-wing role if Sven-Goran Eriksson agrees to become the club's new boss.

Eriksson knows that finding a right-sided winger will be one of his priorities if he takes up Thaksin Shinawatra's offer of a contact at Eastlands.

The 59-year-old Swede is mulling over a contract that would make him the highest paid manager in City's history, with an annual salary of £2m.

But he has spent his 12 months out of football since leaving the England job compiling a database of player targets across Europe.

Eriksson has scoured the continent for players to sign in the event of getting a club job.

Tabs

And the former England coach has been keeping tabs on the availability of Ljungberg and Newcastle striker Michael Owen.

Ljungberg, 30, has two years to run on his contract at Arsenal, but was linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium as he strugged to force his way back into the team after recovering from a run of injuries.

Owen, meanwhile, was an Eriksson favourite during the Swede's five years in charge of the national team.

And the 27-year-old striker has been silent on his future despite the arrival of Sam Allardyce as their new boss. Newcastle are prepared to fight hard to keep Owen, with sources in the North East bullish about the likelihood of him staying.

Any move for either player would depend on Eriksson being appointed, and Shinawatra has kept the door open to make a move for Sevilla's Juande Ramos if the Swede turns down the job.

Shinawatra has pinpointed midfield and attack as the key areas in need of strengthening, and Eriksson indicated that he agreed with the former Thai prime minister's assessment when they met last week to discuss the City post.

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